Jeju Island: Day 4

Today was the day Shana was most looking forward to! When she studied abroad in Northern Ireland for a semester in college, she visited the Giant's Causeway, which is an area with 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. She thought there were only two of these areas in the world - Northern Ireland and Scotland - but she was wrong! 

The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.

 There is one on Jeju Island too!

Teddy and Shana in front of Jusangjeolli in Jeju.

Looking behind the basalt columns to the rocky beach.  What a difference a couple of feet make!

Obligatory selfie!

The Russell Family.

I love this picture because the wave behind Michael is just about to hit him...and he was not happy about it!

A beautiful and tourist free place to sit for a few minutes.  This goes down as one of our "happy places."

We then walked around the pebble beach to the more touristy viewing platforms to see the area from above.  It was quite spectacular!

The boys got ice cream as they left the platforms and Ripley was especially excited about his cone. 

Next, we decided just to drive around the island and check out some of the fishing villages.  Michael had found a wonderful sounding restaurant in our guide book and we went out to search for it.

Teddy with the fishing boats.

After much searching, Michael told us just to be brave and we went into a random restaurant without an English menu.  We ordered what the couple at the table next to us were having and this is what the waiter brought to us.  Sashimi roll ups! 

Everyone tried the fish and the rollups...but there was one thing only Michael and Ripley would try.  The shellfish on the white rectangular plate was still moving!  The waitress cut it up and Michael popped it in his mouth!  He then gave a little to Ripley who was happy to chew it up but we didn't let him swallow it. 

After a nice lunch and a nap in the car for the kids, we traveled to Cheonjiyeon waterfall. 

A fun artsy shot of Shana and the boys next to the Jeju Island statues with blossoms in the background!

Jeju Island: Day 1

We had a wonderful first day on Jeju Island, which is the southern most island in Korea.  Although it's tropical, it was still pretty chilly but that didn't stop us from having an amazing vacation!

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency (opting for soft Western beds instead of hard Asian beds this time), which had beautiful grounds.  We spent part of the first day walking around and seeing all of the big volcanic stone statues unique to Jeju called dol hareubang.  These statues are considered to be gods and offer protection.  Usually they are placed outside gates and doors to ward off demons traveling from one realm to the other.  Pretty cool, huh?

 

Near our hotel was a beautiful three tiered waterfall called Cheonjeyeon Falls.  Before you walk across the bridge over the falls, we happened upon a fountain that we could throw coins into (one of Teddy's favorite pastimes).  You stand in front of one of the five blessings - a turtle for longevity, a mandarin duck for love, a boar for wealth, a dragon for honor, and a carp for sons.  Shana chose wealth and hit the mark on her second try, Teddy chose love and hit the mark on his second try, and Michael chose longevity but didn't hit the mark!

Michael throwing his coin into the stone bag at the top of the fountain.

 We then went to the bridge of the Seven Nymphs and climbed to the top.  The bridge was under construction, very old, and very windy.  Shana got too scared and didn't spend much time there but we did get to snap a few pictures of Teddy!

 

We then wandered over to solid ground and took a look at the second of three waterfalls.  It was a beautiful day!

 

After all of the excitement of waterfalls and wishes, we walked across the street to the Teddy Bear Museum.  When you have a child named Teddy this is just something you HAVE to do!

 

The museum featured the history of the Teddy Bear as well as a history of the modern world as if humans were actually Teddy Bears.  Don't ask questions!

Here are some of the stranger displays from the museum.

The Terra Cotta Warriors.

Einstein.

Teddy pretending to be a mythological warrior bear.

Ghandi Bear.

Shana and Teddy with the traditional Korean Hanbok bears.